Stephen Cummings column: Burnley played their part in FA Cup thriller

IT will come as scant consolation to the hundreds of Burnley supporters who braved the storm-lashed south cost in search of FA Cup glory last weekend, but as they lick their wounds and reflect on what might have been, they can at least be secure in the knowledge that their team played their part in one of the most thrilling ties of third round weekend.

Quite rightly, Sheffield United’s acts of derring-do at Villa Park and Rochdale’s humbling of Leeds United garnered all the headlines.

But only at St Mary’s was there a seven-goal thriller which oscillated with such wild abandon and unpredictability.

It’s a shame that those responsible for choosing which ties were to be televised overlooked this gem.

It was, as former Claret and ex-Saints manager Dave Merrington put it, “a belting cup tie”; one to revive even the most jaded of FA Cup palates.

Here was 90 minutes of attacking intent, goals and drama.

It’s knocking on for a century since Bert Freeman’s strike gave the Clarets their singular success in this competition and it would have been fitting had Burnley been able to enjoy an extended run.

But if you have to leave early, then best to do so kicking and screaming rather than following the path of least resistance.

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Few and far between are the teams who will go to deepest, darkest Hampshire and draw level from a two-goal deficit. Rarer still are those sides who will score three and come away with nothing but pride to show for it.

Sean Dyche’s men may not have done enough to claim the Saints’ scalp but their efforts were certainly deserving of a Turf Moor rematch.

That Jay Rodriguez won’t be revisiting his roots next week was largely down to Kelvin Davis’ wonder-save from Sam Vokes and a stubborn upright which thwarted Danny Ings.

Speaking of Ings, the striker’s 20th goal of the season will have done nothing to quell the interest in him from various clubs.

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Sean Dyche and the board have consistently toed the same line when asked about the player’s future – namely that every player has his price but the club are on a financially sound footing and have no need to sell anyone.

The club’s resilience on this matter is likely to be tested to the full over the next 24 days.

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Comments (5)

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England!
How many years is it?makaveli96

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

Score: -9

Champagne plus charlie says...9:58am Wed 8 Jan 14

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

[quote][p][bold]makaveli96[/bold] wrote:
Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England!
How many years is it?[/p][/quote]19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league.
Such a long time ago and look at you now.
PMSL.Champagne plus charlie

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

Score: 0

The names Bond, John Bond says...10:43am Wed 8 Jan 14

Champagne plus charlie wrote…

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.

[quote][p][bold]Champagne plus charlie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]makaveli96[/bold] wrote:
Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England!
How many years is it?[/p][/quote]19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league.
Such a long time ago and look at you now.
PMSL.[/p][/quote]Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.The names Bond, John Bond

Champagne plus charlie wrote…

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.

Score: 0

Champagne plus charlie says...11:36am Wed 8 Jan 14

The names Bond, John Bond wrote…

Champagne plus charlie wrote…

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.

[quote][p][bold]The names Bond, John Bond[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Champagne plus charlie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]makaveli96[/bold] wrote:
Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England!
How many years is it?[/p][/quote]19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league.
Such a long time ago and look at you now.
PMSL.[/p][/quote]Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.[/p][/quote]Excellent banter, reprising a dead former Burnley manager.
PMSL how poor, just like your team, your fans, your owners, your boring dull manager, your debt, your set of overpaid underperforming mercenaries etc etc.
Blackburn - being outdone by Burnley at ALL levels.Champagne plus charlie

The names Bond, John Bond wrote…

Champagne plus charlie wrote…

makaveli96 wrote…

Not long now till you visit the 1995 champions of England! How many years is it?

19 years since you conned a senile old fat tax dodger out of his family's inheritance and won the league. Such a long time ago and look at you now. PMSL.

Hello Charlie, I'm back to oversee the next chapter. My I'm looking forward to this.

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